SAN FRANCISCO – The limited number of people inside the Chase Center have seen it. So do NBA viewers from across the country – as they tune in to a late-February game between the Golden State Warriors and the free-spirited Cleveland Cavaliers. For those who missed it live, the moment is everywhere on social media.
There they were. Jarrett Allen and Collin Sexton. Two teammates shouting at each other, meaningfully gesturing, waving furiously with their arms and stepping into the visitor’s locker room as they are separated by two coaches and veteran JaVale McGee.
The optics were not great, especially not for a team that lost seven games that competed in the final ride, amid an Andre Drummond drama, which led to fair questions about the unity of the team and tried all week to reassure someone who was willing to believe them. that they did not break.
The Warriors enjoyed the show. They stayed in court to look into the argument. Stephen Curry started laughing.
From then on, liability is a bad thing? Sometimes arguments can be healthy. Sometimes they come from a good place. I mean, it’s not like Allen forcibly hit a basketball at the feet of Cedi Osman (hey there, Kevin Love) in the middle of an offensive possession in hopes of proving a point.
While the relationship between Sexton and Allen – an important relationship for the ripening of the organization – will now be placed under a microscope, the body language between them will be broken down for the next few weeks. intense verbal altercation does not necessarily mean that the players do not like each other.
“They just had a conversation and I’m fine,” Cavs head coach JB Bickerstaff said after the 129-98 loss. A situation occurred on the floor and they had to resolve it. I do not think it was that big of a deal. When we entered the dressing room at rest, it was over. We discussed it and moved on. If you never have conflict, you never have a solution. It’s OK to have a little conflict, as long as it leads to a solution. ‘
The biggest point is that someone – Allen or Sexton – increased the defensive coverage that led to an undisputed dunk for Draymond Green in the last minute. It turns out to be Sexton’s fault, though it’s not all relevant. These communication interruptions and mental decay were a point of frustration during this confusing road trip as the Cavs lost their defensive identity from the early weeks. If there is hope to end this slip, the plays must stop.
Everyone knows this. Sexton too. Letting it slip without saying anything would have been worse. These issues need to be addressed immediately – even if it means a temporary shout in front of an interested audience.
“It’s basketball,” Allen said. ‘Tension is going to get high. I’m not normally the person who starts screaming, but I was just frustrated about everything and then Collin was there. We started screaming. But one thing you need to know, there is not one second I will not fight for that man. I went out and shouted at him. We found it in the locker room. If we’re out there, we’ll make war on each other. ‘
Allen admitted that it was not just one play that launched him. He was also looked at the referee for not calling in front of the buzzer. Of course, the constant loss does not help either. Everyone is on point. The Cavs are being tested. Their defense is a disaster. The offense seems broken. The good vibes have disappeared.
“We lost 20 in a row, it looks like we can’t get out of this little groove,” Allen said. “We are disappearing. Sometimes, once we play a perfect defense, the next time, we will mess up a little thing that will lead to the bucket of another team. ‘
Accountability also means looking in the mirror. On a specific question about how the Cavs can improve their crumbling defense, Allen talked about defending pick and roll and other sets that prove problematic.
“I need to be better, our guards need to be better,” Allen said. ‘Backcuts, you can see it tonight, Draymond (Green) put us apart in terms of backcuts. Every other team just holds back and cuts us. Only mental decay on the defensive side. Sometimes we forget the coverage. Sometimes we will do something we did not agree on before. ”
While Drummond is held out until the Cavs find a workable trade before the March 25 deadline, and Larry Nance Jr. was eliminated due to a broken left hand, Allen is now the defensive center. He should be the voice and edge protector, the last line of defense if and when Cleveland’s guards hit the dribble. That’s a lot of responsibility. Sometimes it means pointing out mistakes. Whatever is needed – of course within reason – to resolve these errors.
Even Sexton would agree. Heck, he said just as much after Friday’s loss to Portland, another game in which the Cavs gave up more than 120 points.
“Right now we’re having conversations and it’s not about trying to show your teammate,” Sexton said that evening. “We all want one goal and that is to win. So just know that it does not come from a bad place. We do not have bad guys who just say things. When someone says that, they mean it and want us to get better. You need to be responsible for your work, and you need to make sure your teammate is accountable. ”
Before the team’s trip, Allen and others talked about it being an opportunity to learn from themselves. Well, they have. Just not a good way.
“We still have a long way to go. I learned that we need to lock in more during the games. “After we beat Brooklyn, let’s give up a little bit,” Allen said. “And now that we’ve been on this roadtrip and lost every game on this roadtrip, it can hopefully be a wake-up call for all of us.”
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